Zhao Yao quickly wore a trouser he found. He didn't wear any upper clothes since he was still bleeding. Using the ripped cloth to press the wound, Zhao Yao searched his house for any medicinal herbs and pills.
'Did they take those? Damn.'
Zhao finally realized where the 15 silvers of the miscellaneous came from.
'Master. Master. Can you hear me? Just tell me where I can come to find you. I am dying here.'
Zhao Yao tried to communicate with his master. The lack of response made him wonder whether the whole 'mind communication' was one of his Master's bluffs.
Even though he exaggerated when he said he was dying, if he didn't stop the bleeding, his fate won't be different from that.
'A banana?' During his search, he found an overripe banana, and he remembered reading somewhere Online that banana peel can heal wounds.
'Screw it.' He didn't know if it will work, but he put the banana peel on top of his wound and tightly wrapped it with his clothes. It was hard to wrap when the wound was on his chest.
"Oh, Master. You are seriously unreliable."
"Muaaahhhh."
He went to the door and checked whether the annoying underlings were still there. To his relief, they were gone.
The low tier cultivation manual he threw to Zhao Ji was still on the floor. Picking it up, Zhao Yao sat down leaning on the wall, immersed in his thoughts.
Zhao Yao understood many things from the confrontation. He thought this Merp was one Zhao Ping owned and didn't realize it was a clan property. This Zhao Ping was thorough and made a well-laid plan.
Since the Merp didn't belong to Zhao Ping, even if he accuses him of trapping him, it won't work under normal circumstances.
'That Zhao.....' Zhao Yao cursed in his mind. Zhao Yao didn't imagine that Zhao Ping to be this shrewd.
He had to find a well laid out plan for Zhao Ping. One that the other would never expect.
Zhao Ping had a huge influence over the clan authority. They won't even let Zhao Yao get a chance to prove his innocence, much less force Zhao Ping to admit his crimes or take a truth ceremony.
He was sure that they will shut down all of his pleas for justice.
Unless...
He makes an explosion.
An explosion that forces and traps the entire clan in his fingertips.
Zhao Ping and Elder Zhao Jiang drew a big line with his dignity, sinking him in a pool of disgrace.
If he needed to wash away the shame and make the line smaller, then he had to draw an even 'Bigger' line.
He needed a big event with a big crowd to make that big line.
And there was no better opportunity for it than the Selection contest, where more than 70% of the clan members, women and children included, watches, where Uncle Su will be present.
It will be his perfect opportunity.
"Muaaahhhh." Merry cried.
"What is it?" Zhao Yao didn't like getting disturbed when he was planning.
"Muaaahhh."
Zhao Yao looked towards her and jumped up in fright when he saw someone beside her.
"WHAT THE H...."
Zhao Yao's panic ended when he identified who it was.
"Master, you scared me to death."
His Master sat there with Merry feeding her a Beast crystal.
"How did you get here?" Zhao Yao was sure that his master didn't enter through the door, and the only window he had was closed as well.
"Wait, don't tell me. You can teleport?" Zhao asked in surprise.
"Teleport?" Immortal Lu questioned in confusion.
"I meant, you can spacetravel?"
"Spacetravel...hmm. You can call it that."
Zhao Yao was amazed by this. This meant his master can reach him whenever he wanted or whenever he was in danger.
Yes...Zhao Yao's mind danced with 'Gangnam Style' playing. That meant he got high-end Life insurance. Zhao Yao could do any daring things without the fear of death.
'Hehe.'
"Why are you smirking?" His Master asked, seeing him lost in thoughts.
"You left a mark on me to find where I am?" Zhao Yao tried to divert.
"I did."
"You heard everything I said? And, when did he get here?"
"When you got naked, haha." Master laughed as he ruffled Merry's fur.
"You were here from for that long?" Zhao Yao got annoyed, but he started feeling pain from all the sudden movements. "Master, why didn't you heal me. Please heal me before I bled to death."
"Why should I? I waited to let you suffer. What were you thinking, inflicting injuries on yourself?" Master stared at in anger. "Value your life more, kid. You didn't have a reason to do self-harm."
"Did you see how they treated me? I had to do this. I can't continue to get bullied anymore." Zhao Yao ripped open the bandage, showing the wound. "I would die than getting played by those buffoons. Master, please help me get strong."
"I don't understand how people change this much to harm their own kin." Immortal Lu walked to Zhao Yao and carefully injected his Qi into him, healing him. "You want to be strong? If you harm yourself and try to kill yourself, how can you be strong? You need to alive to be strong. To grow, you need to take care of yourself."
"Thank you, Master. I will follow your advice." Zhao Yao bowed.
Looking at his chest, there was no wound anymore, but there was a scar.
"Master, what about this scar?"
"You will have it as a reminder of your folly so that you never do this again. When you get strong, heal it yourself." Master said with a smile.
"I can't believe that the Zhao brat's descendants become this apathetic and corrupt. He was someone who loved his people and worked for their welfare. Now his clan members are harming each other."
Immortal Lu turned to Zhao Yao and asked.
"Why did your cousin even do that to you?"
This question plagued Zhao Yao too. He had an initial guess. The memory of the night his Master showed, and the upcoming Selection contest confirmed his guess.
"Master, I figured out why he did it. It's very simple, actually."
"Simple?"
"What makes men kill each other?" Zhao Yao smiled as he continued. "Wealth, he had plenty. Power, he had it too. That leaves us just one more reason." Zhao Yao smiled when he saw his Master was listening attentively.
"He had more wealth and power than me. He bullied me. Why did Zhao Ping go out of his way to lay that trap for me?"
"Why?"
"Of course for a woman."
"You mean for your fiance?" His Master asked in surprise.
"I had a powerful fiance, which he didn't have. Either he fell for her and wanted to get rid of my marriage arrangement, or he did it out of jealousy." Zhao Yao continued after taking a few breaths.
"He couldn't kill me or force me out of the marriage because of the Uncle Su protecting me. So, he chose this disgraceful shaming that can destroy my reputation as well as cancel the wedding arrangement. It was very clever.
Zhao Ping has his birthday in 5 days turning sixteen. He made the clan conduct a Selection contest on the same day to showcase his talent and superiority. And, by inviting Su Ruo's father, I am pretty sure Zhao Ping and his father Zhao Guang is trying to convince Uncle Su to make him the new fiance."
"It makes sense. Don't worry, Zhao Yao." Master placed his hand on Zhao Yao's shoulder and consoled him. "We can try to convince your girl, Su Ruo, of your innocence."
Zhao Yao shook his head after hearing his Master.
"It isn't that simple, Master."
He didn't get a Waifu vibe from Su Ruo. It could be because he didn't have much interaction with her in the last couple of years. But, the usual cultivation novel waifus are very loyal. They will stick with the MC's through hardships and even in their shameful times.
She didn't even try to talk with him after seeing him like that. Maybe she will later. Or she didn't have feelings for him, YET.
'Hehe, then I have to make her fall for me.'
But Zhao Yao was also sure that there was someone in the Su clan or Su Ruo's servants who didn't like him to marry her.
"On the night of the trap, Zhao Ping knew very well that Su Ruo was coming the next day. So someone from Su clan, who didn't like me to marry her, informed him about her visit. That someone is aiding Zhao Ping."
He thought of that detestable Servant who acted mighty in front of Elder Zhao Jiang.
More enemies...hehe. More enemies meant more fun.
"Zhao Yao, what are you going to do? I need my Spirit garment as soon as possible." Immortal looked at his grey robe as he said. "It's a bother to protect my clothes every time. I am so used to the spirit garments that sometimes, I forget that I am wearing regular cloth."
"Master, I remembered something important. The Ancient Zhao clan isn't the strongest but its roots are deep. There were two times when powerful outside forces tried to invade the clan, only to get crushed."
"Is that so?" Immortal Lu smiled.
"The clan is weak outside to attack anyone, but it's invincible when defending against invading forces. There is a rumor that a Demon Emperor protects the hill. So sneaking inside may not be possible without an all-out fight with the entire clan."
"Yes. There is a Demonic beast protecting this place. I sensed it." His Master didn't look surprised at all.
"You sensed it?" Zhao Yao was the one who got surprised. "Can you defeat everyone?"
"I would like to avoid unnecessary fighting if possible."
Zhao Yao was disappointed. He hoped his master to be daring enough to kill whoever stood in his ways.
Zhao Yao wasn't sadistic like the protagonists he created, massacring the entire clan without any thought. This Zhao clan had about 100,000 people, including innocent women and children. But he wasn't the type to show mercy to his enemies.
Zhao Yao smiled as a plan formulated in his mind.
"Master, I have a plan that can clear my name as well as enter the Ancestral palace. But I need your aid. You only have to wait 5 days."
"But first, please guide me in cultivation."
Zhao Yao smiled as he couldn't wait but had a lot to do to prepare. There were only FIVE MORE DAYS TO THE SHOWDOWN.
*********************